by KUBOA
***
We were quiet. I was quietly flipping out. I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. Samantha offered me a cigarette.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’m sorry…I’m out of it.”
“It’s okay. We can go back to Hudson and get Mexican.”
Finally, a good idea. I love it.
“That’s a good idea, Samantha.”
“I know.”
We drove down route 10, heading east. We talked. We were calm. We were married. We’d known each other only a few days.
“Tell me your scariest story,” said Samantha.
We talked and we talked and we shared. It all came very easy. I drove slowly. I listened to her. She listened to me. The sun was going down. The sky was pink and purple and blue.
Back in Hudson, I found a place to park just off of Moon Street. We got out and it was twilight and the town was colorful. We walked hand in hand to a Mexican restaurant.
Inside, we were greeted by a big fake lizard that said something in Spanish. We smiled at each other and then a hostess with a heavy southern accent brought us to a patio out back. It was nice, but we’d soon regret it. The mosquitoes were horrible. My hat was low. We’d been telling dirty stories. A waiter took our order and then left.
“So…I can’t believe you were trying to get me to come over that night,” said Samantha.
“I was.”
“Did you wave to me?”
I thought about it. Then I grinned and said, “In a way, I suppose.”
We laughed. Samantha sipped on a Mexican beer. I sipped on my soda. Our food came. I wanted to throw rice and beans at Samantha. I didn’t tell her this. Or maybe I did. We ate. We talked. We laughed. We got bitten by mosquitoes. They attacked Samantha more than me. I felt bad about that. We settled up the bill and I was suddenly very poor. We left. As we moved out, the big fake lizard popped up and whispered, “Adios, my little lovers.”
We blushed and pressed into each other. The cowbells around our necks clanged loudly.
***
At a stoplight.
“Look at that shit,” I said, pointing.
“What?”
“Look.”
Across the street from us was a big neon sign that read, “Cinema.”
“We’re fucking idiots,” I said.
“Yes we are.”
We held hands. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy sang sad songs for us as we drove toward Main Street. Then Chess. Then Ledgewood. It was dark out. It was eight o’clock. I had to leave.
***
“Goodbye, Sissy. Thank you for everything.”
“Goodbye, David.”
We embraced. And it was right, good. Despite her weird flirtations, she had been my mother too these last few days.
“You’ll come to see us soon?” she asked.
“Yes, very soon.”
“Good. Samantha will be happy.”
I’ll be happy too.
Samantha stood in the doorway.
“Let’s go outside, David,” she said.
“Okay.”
We were calm but hyperaware. We didn’t want to miss a fucking thing. Sissy pressed a large yellow bag into my palm.
“Don’t forget this,” she said with a smile.
I smiled back.
“Of course not.”
The bag was filled with M&Ms. She hoped that by ridding the house of candy she might somehow deter future spills.
You never know.
I waved a last time to Sissy and followed Samantha outside into the night. I put the yellow bag into the back of my truck. Then I gave Samantha everything that I could give her.
“Take my fleece. Take my basketball. Take my love. Take my madness. Take my eyes.”
I popped an eye out and offered it to her. She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
“You can keep your eyes, David. You’ll need them.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I’m always right.”
“C’mere.”
And we rushed into each other’s arms, and it was tight, and strong, and warm, and it was the last time we’d get to be the monster suit for a while. And so we lingered. We lingered in each other’s arms.
“I wish I could give you more,” she said.
“You’ve given me plenty, Samantha. We’ve got time.”
We parted but we were still connected. Samantha looked at me with those hazel eyes.
“We’ve got time?” she asked.
“Yes.”
We kissed. We kissed. And we were slow, and sad, and happy. We parted. I got into my truck. She backpedaled to the bottom of the steps. I waved. She waved. We’d done this before but this time it was different. This time I wasn’t coming back in a few days.
“I’ll call you in two hours,” I said.
“Call me in two hours.”
“I will.”
“I know you will.”
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I started the truck and drove away. Samantha slunk sadly up the cement steps and into the house. I turned onto Chess. Samantha’s mother stopped her in the hallway. I called my mother to let her know I was on my way home.
[“Samantha?” asked Sissy.]
“Hey, Mom. It’s me. I’m on my way home.”
[“Yes, Mom?”]
How was everything?” she asked.
[“Why was your shirt tucked into David’s pocket last night?”]
I sighed.
[Samantha sighed.]
“Everything was great, Mom. I’m nutty nuts for this girl.”
[“Mom, just let it go. Can’t you see I’m fucking fruitcake for this guy?”]
My mother nodded. I could hear her nod through the phone. Mothers understand.
[Samantha’s mother nodded. Her face was kind. Mothers understand.]
